Aliens vs. Predator (comics line)

The Aliens vs. Predator comic book line, also known as Aliens versus Predator and Alien vs. Predator, and commonly abbreviated as AVP, is a long-running series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics that brings together the titlular creatures from the popular 20th Century Fox science-fiction film franchises Alien and Predator. The comic book line is in fact where the entire Alien vs. Predator franchise originated, being the medium that originally brought the two species together. The line has included a number of limited series, one-shots and short stories, starting with the original Aliens vs. Predator story in Dark Horse Presents #36 in February 1990.

Since the line's inception, Dark Horse has published a total of 24 different Aliens vs. Predator stories, as well as various collected editions, reprints and non-canon crossover comics that introduce the titular Alien and Predator species to other franchises.

Contents

Publication History

Origins and development

The concept of a crossover between the Xenomorphs and Yautja originated from a meeting between executives at Dark Horse Comics, originally scheduled to discuss a potential crossover event with DC Comics. According to publisher and Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson, editor Chris Warner was the person who first proposed the idea, suggesting that a crossover between two of their own properties may be more straightforward as it would keep the new comic "in-house" rather than involving DC.[1]

Warner's suggestion soon led to a three-part short story that was published in the anthology series Dark Horse Presents, Vol. 1 #34-36, from November 1989-January 1990; the final of these issues, Dark Horse Presents #36, was the first official media to feature the title "Aliens vs. Predator", atop the first-ever piece of Aliens vs. Predator cover artwork. The three-part story subsequently acted as a prequel, and the line was launched proper with a four-issue limited series published in 1990 and written by Randy Stradley. The series proved to be both hugely popular and influential, and launched not only an ongoing line of Aliens vs. Predator comics from Dark Horse, but a crossover trend that has seen countless other comic franchises brought together for special stories in a similar fashion. The series also introduced the Aliens vs. Predator line's pre-eminent character and recurring protagonist Machiko Noguchi, a human female who is adopted into a Yautja clan in recognition of her combat skills.

The original Aliens vs. Predator comic was followed by various other limited series, one shots and short stories, most of which act as stand-alone stories, although several serve as sequels, typically to the original series. The line has also made reference to and used characters and plot elements from Dark Horse's Aliens and Predator comics, establishing that all three lines exist in the same general continuity. In 1992, Dark Horse attempted to spread the Aliens vs. Predator line to the United Kingdom market, first as part of Aliens magazine and later in the anthology magazine Total Carnage. However, the global fall in comic book sales over the mid-1990s caused both magazines to be cancelled in early 1994.

The quasi-hiatus finally came to an end in 2009, when Dark Horse Comics relaunched its Aliens vs. Predator line with the new series Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War. Beginning in January 2013, Dark Horse began issuing its back catalogue of Aliens vs. Predator comics — starting with the original 1990 series — as digital downloads via its subsidiary Dark Horse Digital. More recent titles in the line have been published simultaneously in physical and digital formats.

Common Themes

Set mostly in the future, the AVP comics introduce the idea of the Predator race — refered to as the "Hunters" — capturing Xenomorphs, seeding planets with them, and hunting the resultant creatures for sport. These activities often spiral disastrously out of control, typically with human characters caught in the middle of the battle between the two species.

Notably, the Aliens vs. Predator stories were the first to start to delve into the culture and customs of the Yautja race (the name of which in fact originated in Aliens vs. Predator: Prey, the novelization of the original series), aspects of which were merely hinted at in the feature films. The comics also explore the nature of their interactions with the Aliens.

Influence on the Alien vs. Predator Films

The story from the original Aliens vs. Predator comic was the basis of The Hunt: Alien vs. Predator, a script for a proposed feature film based on the franchise written by Peter Briggs, but the project was ultimately abandoned. However, several years later 20th Century Fox resurrected the concept of a movie featuring Aliens and Predators, now with Paul W. S. Anderson at the helm. Notably, some elements from the comic series — specifically the apparatus used to imprison the Alien Queen, and the idea a Predator joining forces with a strong human female character — were used in Alien vs. Predator. The concept of the Predalien, which first originated in an AVP comic (Aliens vs. Predator: Duel), was also utilized in the 2007 sequel, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.

Non-Dark Horse Comics

As well as the numerous comics published by Dark Horse, a small number of Predator comics have also been released by other publishers. As Dark Horse had no involvement with these comics, they are not considered a part of the company's Predator line and have never been collected in any form with the Dark Horse releases.

Trivia

The evolution of the Aliens vs. Predator comics logo.

Unlike the Aliens and Predator comics from Dark Horse, the titular logo for the Aliens vs. Predator comic books has undergone a complete redesign several times during the line's history. Originally, comics were branded with a simple amalgam of the existing Aliens and Predator logos, but in the late 1990s Dark Horse introduced an original "AVP" logo. This was changed again in the mid-2000s, when the comic books adopted the simpler, stark AVP logo that was developed for the film Alien vs. Predator. Aliens vs. Predator comics have retained this logo ever since.